Medicines Act gives the minister responsibility for health and the
possibility to determine the scope of their list of essential medicines. It is
established that the essential medicines are those that are based on recent
advances in biomedical science and professional identification in the context of
national health priorities necessary to implement the health of people or
animals. Ministry of Health publishes a list on its website. JAZMP as a
participating institution in the process of preparing the list has posted a link
to the list. http://www.jazmp.si/zacetna-stran/seznami/

Regulation of essential medicines reflect the intention of permanent national
policy that is focused on drugs to target the health care needs of the
population. It shall provide all those products that are indispensable for the
implementation of publicly funded health care programs. The process of creating
the list should reflect the national priorities set in the product selection and
must take into account economic factors. The list is produced in collaboration
with industry and relevant institutions. JAZMP Minister gives technical support
to determine whether each proposed product meet the statutory criteria for
inclusion on the list of essential medicines or to exclude them.

Given the characteristics of the Slovenian drug market, which is one of the
smaller markets in the European Union (less than 0.5%), the issue of essential
medicines is closely related to the problem of availability of medicines. It
must also justify its existence with economic impact. The system can supply
some, particularly low-cost or infrequently used drugs, if it is economically
unprofitable for suppliers. Avoiding disruption in the supply of these drugs
should take into account both national regulation and the allocation of certain
types of licenses, which allows the drug market in the Republic of Slovenia to
regulate their prices.